A measles outbreak is currently under investigation in Florida, just ahead of the start of spring break season.

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The spring break season typically means a huge influx of visitors in Florida, as crowds of people travel to the state for vacation. And now, a potential health concern has arisen in the state, just as spring break travel prepares to begin.

According to CNN, the Florida Department of Health in Broward County is investigating multiple cases of measles as part of an outbreak at an elementary school in Weston, a city in south Florida. At least six cases have been reported at the school in the past week.

Family physician and public health specialist Dr. George Rust commented, “Most kids in our public schools have had the vaccine, although there’s been some slippage in that in recent years. The kids who are not vaccinated, if they’re exposed to measles, 90% of them will get measles. So it’s a highly infectious disease, very contagious.”

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On Tuesday, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo wrote a letter about the outbreak to parents and guardians, stating that it is “normally recommended” for people who have been exposed to measles and who are not vaccinated against the virus or who do not have a history of infection to stay home for up to 21 days, the length of the incubation period for measles.

However, in the letter, Ladapo wrote that the state health department is “deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance.” This contradicts guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which states that “unvaccinated children, including those who have a medical or other exemption to vaccination, must be excluded from school through 21 days after their most recent exposure.”

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The CDC advises that measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to complications and turn deadly. Symptoms may include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a rash of red spots. In rare cases, it may lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, or death. It can also weaken the immune system and may “delete” its immune memory.

Experts recommend that children get the measles, mumps, and rubella or MMR vaccine in two doses. One dose is about 93% effective at preventing measles if you come into contact with the virus. Two doses are about 97% effective. According to a 2023 report, nationwide, about 92% of US children have gotten the MMR vaccine by age 2.

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Measles cases have emerged in several states this year. As of Thursday, 35 cases have been reported by 15 jurisdictions: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. In comparison, a total of 58 cases were reported for all of 2023.

We’ll be on the lookout for more updates as the spring break season gets closer, so stay tuned to DFB for more news.

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